What is a training and assessment course?
Why do a training and assessment course?
The Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is specifically designed to teach all the skills needed to be a qualified trainer. It is a versatile qualification that opens the door to jobs in multiple industries including vocational education like TAFEs and schools, and corporate settings. People can use their experience in an industry and start a career in teaching, delivering and assessing courses in a particular field.
Course description
The training and assessment course is an up to 12 months of delivery course that can be delivered online with virtual classes and virtual workshops. Alternatively, some campuses may offer face to face workshops and classes if preferred. This part-time course is ideal for those still in the workforce with virtual classes and workshops available day, evening or weekends. It teaches skills necessary to become a qualified trainer in the workplace or vocational education teacher.
What the course teaches
The training and assessment course teaches people:
- how to plan, develop and conduct training and assessment activities and processes to be used in the workplace or vocational training
- how to plan, organise and deliver training in the workplace and group-based learning
- how to participate in assessment validation and contribute towards the continuous improvement of assessment practice
- how to identify and implement strategies to help address adult literacy, numeracy and language skills, and
- how to locate and interpret training packages and courses to develop learning programs
Mode of delivery
Whether you choose online virtual learning or face-to-face, the mode of delivery is the same. Classes consist of:
- 35 x 3 hour teacher led theory delivery sessions
- 47 x 3 hour teacher supervised assessments sessions
- 9 x 3 hour teacher managed supported completion sessions
Entry requirements
To be eligible to undertake this training and assessment course at TAFE, you must meet this criteria:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have an established level of literacy which is assessed as part of the application procedure
- Have access to the appropriate digital requirements for the course like a laptop computer and stable internet connection
- Be able to demonstrate current vocational qualification(s) or relevant industry experience in the proposed teaching and assessing area. You can demonstrate your experience or qualification(s) multiple ways.
- Complete a vocational questionnaire, then provide supporting documents for your relevant industry experience and/or vocational qualification(s). This might be a resume copy, certificates, and/or a statement of attainment.
- You can alternatively submit a copy of your unique student identifier (USI) transcript from usi.gov.au instead of a statement of attainment. This will provide supporting evidence for your vocational experience.
Course requirements
This qualification requires the successful completion of six core units and six electives. Additional course requirements include:
- Undertake a minimum of 15 hours per week of independent course-related activities including pre-learning and assessment completion outside of the class delivery schedule.
- Demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of the course including face to face and in person training sessions with at least four learners.
- Facilitate training sessions based on a training product that is nationally recognised or aligned with other frameworks.
- Deliver sessions in their entirety from start to finish.
- Monitor learner engagement and participation.
- Identify and respond to foundation skill needs.
- Source your own learners for the purpose of the training.
- Provide real or simulated training environments.
How to apply
To apply for the training and assessment course at South West TAFE, follow these steps:
- Apply online with a short application form
- Some candidates will undertake a literacy and numeracy assessment
- Chat to a course specialist who will contact you to discuss details of the course
- Enrol in the course if sent an email saying you have been accepted
- Receive invoice for the course to pay
Fees
There are four different rates of fees for this training and assessment course. Each depends on your eligibility and circumstances.
- Government subsidised: Under the Skills First program, you could be eligible for a government subsidised rate depending on factors like citizenship and education history. This means the government will contribute towards your fees.
- Government subsidised concession fee: For those who hold a valid concession card and are eligible for a Skills First government subsidies place, fees may be capped at a concession rate for this course.
- Free TAFE: If eligible for Free TAFE you will not have to pay for the course. However, there may be some costs like materials, uniforms or excursions.
- Full fee: If you are not eligible for the subsidised places or free TAFE, you may be required to pay the full fee.
Benefits of a training and assessment course
The nationally-recognised qualification in training and assessment equips people with the skills to improve their professional development and enhance career opportunities. As the benchmark for quality trainers, it has a myriad of advantages for the participant. These include:
- Career advancement: Successful completion of a training and assessment course leads to a number of career opportunities. Once you have this certification, you can be a trainer or assessor for businesses, corporations, private organisations, publicly supported institutions and public and private universities. This qualification gives you the additional skills of a trainer and assessor while still retaining your practical professional skills likely to lead to career advancement. You can work as a training needs analyst, enterprise assessor, enterprise trainer, and help advance others careers by teaching them new skills. It opens the doors to increased job opportunities and advancement within your industry. You can become a leader in your field which is a highly transferable skill for most roles.
- Meet needs of changing industry: After completing a training and assessment course, you will be able to align your training and assessment knowledge with the needs of an evolving industry. Your knowledge and skills will be able to ensure those you teach are up-to-date with the latest job relevant skills. In the course, you will have gained the skills to keep on track with industry changes and practices, integrating this into your knowledge and assessment.
- Training by experts in industry: You will be trained by industry experts who give real world examples and practical insights into the current industry needs. Their skills and knowledge will be used to teach you how to deliver, develop, and assess training within your industry.
Trainer and assessor jobs
As a trainer and assessor, you will be qualified to train at a public organisation like TAFE, Vocational College or any registered training organisation. It also opens doors in a variety of industries like corporate settings, health and safety, human resources and aged care facilities.
Some trainer and assessor jobs include:
- Registered Training Organisation (RTO) trainer and assessor: As an RTO trainer and assessor, you will work in a registered training organisation, delivering lessons and assessing students performance and outcomes. As an RTO trainer and assessor, your role is to plan, develop and deliver courses, assess and evaluate student performance, and provide advice to students as required.
- Corporate or workplace trainer: A corporate or workplace trainer and assessor helps train and assess employees within the organisation. Your role in this setting is to create, deliver and evaluate training programs to improve employee skills. This role requires industry specific expertise.
As a trainer and assessor, there are many career opportunities, some of which would require additional education like a diploma or higher qualification. Some other potential career paths from trainer and assessor jobs are:
- Training manager
- RTO manager
- Compliance manager
- Student support
- Course advisor
- Instructional designer
Key responsibilities and tasks of a trainer and assessor
After completing a training and assessment course, your key responsibilities and tasks as a trainer and assessor will be:
- Develop training programs: The initial part of a trainer and assessor’s role is to design and develop engaging training programs for students.
- Deliver lessons: Whether face-to-face or online, trainers must be able to deliver engaging lessons and cater to different learning styles within student groups. Adapting lessons to each student’s capabilities and learning requirements is crucial.
- Conduct assessments: During the training program, student assessments must be conducted at regular intervals. This means assessing the practical and theoretical work and providing constructive feedback to students with the aim of them improving their work and skills.
- Maintain compliance: As a trainer and assessor, compliance with the national standards is paramount. Keeping up to date with the latest training materials, rules and regulations is imperative to ensure compliance with set standards.
A training and assessment course is an excellent pathway for those wanting to enhance their skills or advance their current career. The main training and assessment course is a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment which can be delivered online or in person. The course takes up to 12 months and is part of the Free TAFE program for eligible students. To find out more about becoming a trainer and assessor, contact the team at South West TAFE.